Day: August 16, 2021

Build the Kingdom of God in your hearts… August 17, 2021 Dear Family of Mary! Today’s Gospel begins with these words: Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible….” (Mt 19:23-24) The Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven!! This is our goal and our home forever! But how can we enter it? Jesus tells us that we cannot enter the Kingdom of God if we are rich. We presume He means if we are rich with money, power and prestige. This unholy threesome makes us feel like gods ourselves, without the True God. They create an illusion of a kingdom built by me for me. But it is an illusion for sure. But there is another aspect of this being rich without God. We can be rich in our own hearts, thinking only of our own gifts, talents, ideas, and preoccupations. We can be so rich in our own self that we don’t have room for God! This is also a danger. Our Lady speaks to us about the Kingdom of Heaven often. She wants us to firmly plant the Kingdom of God in our hearts and minds as our goal in life, the place we want to be forever! To plant that Kingdom, we must uproot our own inner kingdom and take ourselves off the throne of our lives. She told us: August 2, 2010 “Dear children! Today I call you, together with me, to begin to build the Kingdom of Heaven in your hearts; that you may forget that which is personal and, led by the example of my Son, think of what is of God. What does He desire of you? Do not permit satan to open the paths of earthly happiness, the paths without my Son. My children, they are false and last a short while. My Son exists. I offer you eternal happiness and peace and unity with my Son, with God; I offer you the Kingdom of God. Thank you.” She tells us to “forget that which is personal!” Forget the goals and desires of our own little imaginations. “Think of what is of God! What does He desire for you?” We need to embrace God’s gift of life, His future for each of us! That is what is most important! What does God desire??? She tells us: “Do not permit Satan to open the paths of earthly happiness, the paths without my Son.” If we are rich in earthly pleasures and goals, we will be numb to the beauty of Heaven. We will not see the power and glory of God, but only our own fleeting pleasures. Our Lady wants us to wake up to the eternal reality that awaits us! “I offer you eternal happiness and peace and unity with my Son, with God: I offer you the Kingdom of God!” Yes, Mother we want to enter that Kingdom. Please lead us to Jesus! And even if we are slow to choose and we find it hard to let go of the world or our own inner kingdom, please pray for us so that what is impossible for men, will be possible with God! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c)Mary TV 2021

  “Like a star that wants to enlighten our path…” August 16, 2021 St. Stephen of Hungary Dear Family of Mary! Today I want to share a beautiful sign of hope that Our Lady gave to us yesterday during the Evening prayer of the Rosary in Medjugorje on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 2021!!! Mary TV was streaming the prayer, live, all over the world. And just before Apparition Time, there appeared in the setting sun a unique and beautiful sign. The sun took on the appearance of a huge six pointed star! It was very bright, and brilliant! You can see the sun in the picture above. It lasted for several minutes, and was very clear! (You can view the video of the Evening Rosary at this link: https://marytv.tv/evening-parish-rosary-2/?smid=iAlSwLs0DH4&slid=KzW0gpDRsDR ) The star had six points and resembled “The Star of David” which the Jewish people recognize as a sign of their special relationship with God. Our Lady is the greatest of stars for her people, having given birth to the Messiah. There is also this prophecy in Revelations 12: And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; (Rev 12: 1) Our Lady is that woman! And in Medjugorje she often gives signs in the sun, in the moon and in the stars! She especially uses the sun to get our attention and call us to prayer. Perhaps we were seeing one star in her crown! So this special sign, the sun in the form of a Star, was dramatic and prolonged. Then, in the prepared homily for the evening mass that followed (August 15, 2021) which followed, the young priest had these words for us about Our Lady: Mary’s Assumption is the best image of what is awaiting us on the Last Day. For that reason many of us go today on a pilgrimage to Marian Shrines, directing their eyes toward the one who God exalted and glorified in Heaven like no other creature and they ask for her intercession. Her image stands today, as well, glittering before us like the great sign from the Book of Revelation, “Like a star” that wants to enlighten our path and show us the right path to eternal beatitude for all of us pilgrims here on earth. Therefore let us direct our eyes toward her, toward her Son, that she constantly is pointing us to for all of us here in Medjugorje. But we are not called to be the so-called stars of this world, celebrities of this world who shine but are put out even faster. For while we are presently suffering under the pressure of earthly worries, and difficulties, let us not allow them to overpower us. But let us direct our eyes towards God, glorifying Him and praising Him like Mary did. Let us do that always, in spite of every thing. May our answer to all the challenges that may come be the sight full of hope and trust in the One who is leading and directing everything, and who in the end will turn everything unto good. Let us direct our eyes toward eternity, toward those enduring and never decaying things like Mary did. Let us follow her here on earth, her path of humility, surrender and service to God and others, so that we may one day be in Heaven with her and in communion with the Lord. Turn then most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and constantly direct us toward your Son. Praised be Jesus and Mary. (Homily on August 15, 2021, Medjugorje) Well you can see that Our Lady really wanted us to see in the sun, her image as the Star! She is the Star that will guide us into a new life. She has come to guide and lead us, much like the star led the wise men to the stable at Bethlehem. She is guiding us to Heaven, even as the world seems to be slipping into darkness. She will be our light! Praise God for this gift and may we stay very close to Mary in the days ahead, through prayer! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c)Mary TV 2021